Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 174 (Part 1):

After the incident with Teresa, Helmut and Alea returned to the dormitory.

The new semester was about to begin. Unexpectedly, Instructor Alan offered to buy them a meal, leading to plans being made.

They didn’t set a specific date for the next meeting, leaving it uncertain when it would happen next.

“Take care.”

Helmut didn’t ask anything as Alea, waving casually as if nothing had happened, disappeared.

In truth, there weren’t any pressing questions to ask. There were curiosities, but nothing significant.

‘I should go for training.’

That evening, after visiting the personal training ground, Helmut ran into Sian and Asuka.

True to his reputation for being well-informed, it seemed Sian had already heard about Helmut’s day. Asuka greeted him with a sullen wave.

“Hey, traitor. Does food taste better when you eat with Alea?”

“I told you. It was a promise.”

“Why does it sound so suspicious when two guys make a promise?”

“It’s my business. And Alea doesn’t like either of you anyway.”

Sian grumbled at Helmut’s blunt response.

“…It’s true, but do you have to say something so hurtful so nonchalantly?”

Helmut, not understanding how his words were hurtful, raised an eyebrow and looked at him. Sian sighed and continued.

“By the way, I heard you fought with a senior female student at some fancy shaved ice place. It caused quite the stir, didn’t it?”

The rumors had been very detailed.

“Alea fighting with a girl? That must be something.”

Asuka focused on a different point.

“Yeah, it seems Alea’s popularity isn’t what it used to be. The upperclassmen say that Alea’s magic has the power to charm the opposite sex, but it seems to have weakened.”

“Does that mean his abilities have declined?”

“No, it probably means he’s gotten better at controlling his magic. Even enough to hide his inherent attributes.”

“That’s unfortunate news. But why did you fight?”

All eyes turned to Helmut, who had nothing to say. It was a delicate matter to explain.

“It’s something you’re used to, and if Alea raised his voice… Did that senior girl like you? Is that why she interfered with your plans?”

Sian’s accurate guess made Helmut flinch.

“I thought so.”

“Was that senior pretty?”

Asuka asked with sparkling eyes. Sian playfully jabbed him in the side.

“Why do you ask as if you trust his taste? She must have been confident to approach him.”

“Rejecting a pretty senior who approached you. Alea is no help, huh.”

Asuka nodded and added.

“I told you, that guy is dangerous.”

“In what way?”

Sian asked, and Asuka answered knowingly.

“He doesn’t have friends. Meaning, he might become overly attached to his only friend.”

Asuka himself only had two people he could call friends: Sian and Helmut.

“So, you’re half as attached to me and Helmut?”

“Looking for a fight?”

As always, they bickered endlessly. Helmut pondered for a moment.

‘Obsession.’

Even if it were true, it seemed insignificant. There was no conflict between him and Alea at the moment.

*

The new semester began. It wasn’t marked by any grand events, just classes as usual.

Helmut arrived on time at the swordsmanship department’s second-year courtyard, where he hadn’t needed to be during the vacation. He glanced around at his classmates.

‘Everyone has achieved something.’

No one seemed to have slacked off over the break. At the Greta Academy, known for its competitive environment, slackers wouldn’t survive.

Greetings came from all around. As the top student of the swordsmanship department, Helmut was bound to attract attention.

“Hey, Helmut. Long time no see.”

“Did you have a good break? You weren’t just lazing around, were you?”

“You got a tan? Did you train under the scorching sun?”

“I heard rumors about Senior Teresa liking you?”

“But you rejected her spectacularly? Why?”

He had no memory of being confessed to or rejecting anyone, though the situation seemed familiar.

If asked why, it would be difficult to explain, but he likely would have rejected Teresa even if she hadn’t been so forward.

“It’s annoying…”

“Wow, this guy. So cool?”

“Yeah, that’s what it takes to be the top student in the swordsmanship department.”

“But she is pretty.”

“I wouldn’t have rejected her.”

The chatter suddenly stopped. Helmut inevitably noticed Asuka approaching from the other side.

Asuka’s presence made everyone fall silent, a situation no different from the previous semester.

“Hey, why do you always walk alone? You could have woken me up if I overslept.”

Asuka complained. It was one minute before class started. He barely avoided being late. Helmut simply replied.

“Wake up on your own.”

He wasn’t kind enough to wake someone up, especially since he didn’t even know where Asuka’s room was.

Asuka was about to say something when suddenly…

“Attention, everyone!”

It was instructor Alan. His appearance prompted all the students in the swordsmanship department to line up.

Instructor Alan looked awkwardly towards Helmut before speaking.

“Is everyone healthy? I hope you didn’t neglect your training over the break.”

“Yes, sir!”

The loud response echoed back.

“Good. If there were shortcomings last semester, you’d work hard not to fall behind. If you performed well, you’d strive not to be overtaken. I trust everyone has diligently prepared. Today is the first class.”

The first class usually involved exams and an overview of the academic schedule. This time was no different.

“I’ll briefly explain the academic schedule. You’re all aware of the upcoming summer festival, right?”

Cheers erupted. Nobody disliked having fun. The festival was one of the few breaks from the rigorous academy life. If there was a picnic in the first semester, the summer festival marked the second.

“After the three-day summer festival, midterms will approach. After the midterms, there will be a week for project assignments. More details will be provided then.”

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